County FMR · HUD FY2026

District of Columbia Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for District of Columbia, DC - 110% above the US average.

$2,015
1-bedroom FMR
$2,246
2-bedroom FMR
-2.0%
YoY change
+110%
vs US avg

The verdict

Nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#94
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
+0%
vs the state average
$80,600
income to afford it (30% rule)
-2.0%
YoY, FY2025→2026

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.5%), while Retail Salespersons spend the most (64%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for District of Columbia, DC. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in District of Columbia, District of Columbia is $2,015 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,246/mo and a studio is $1,953/mo. This is 110% higher than the national average of $959 and 0% above the District of Columbia average of $2,015.

Rent decreased2.0% from FY 2025 ($2,056), declining against the trend. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $80,600/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in District of Columbia. Population: 670,587. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.8%, Census ACS). That's in line with District of Columbia's statewide growth of -1.8% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area DISTRICT·OF·COLUMBIA·DC·DC

District of Columbia, DC: $2,015/mo 1BR · #94 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA DC
  • 1BR-FMR $2,015
  • 2BR-FMR $2,246
  • RANK-UPPER #94
  • YOY-FLAT -2.0%
  • VSUS-HIGH +110%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +0% DC
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-MAJOR 671K
  • PHOTO-CLEAR Peer pending
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,814–$2,217
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,953 · US avg: $893
$1,953/mo
↓ 2.9% YoY +0% vs state +119% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $2,015 · US avg: $959
$2,015/mo
↓ 2.0% YoY +0% vs state +110% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,246 · US avg: $1,175
$2,246/mo
↓ 2.9% YoY +0% vs state +91% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,835 · US avg: $1,525
$2,835/mo
↓ 2.0% YoY +0% vs state +86% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,332 · US avg: $1,756
$3,332/mo
↓ 2.4% YoY +0% vs state +90% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $2,012
$1,953
$-59 (-2.9%)
1 Bedroom $2,056
$2,015
$-41 (-2.0%)
2 Bedroom $2,314
$2,246
$-68 (-2.9%)
3 Bedroom $2,893
$2,835
$-58 (-2.0%)
4 Bedroom $3,413
$3,332
$-81 (-2.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in District of Columbia. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
22%
Affordable
Need $78,120/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
22.7%
Affordable
Need $80,600/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.4%
Affordable
Need $89,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
32%
Burdened
Need $113,400/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
37.6%
Burdened
Need $133,280/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%25.4%
District of Columbia 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $106,287 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View District of Columbia rent burden →

Where District of Columbia sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$2,246 Top 3% higher than 97% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Below this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). This entry sits in this band. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $2,015/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using District of Columbia BLS wages?

Occupation DC Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $167,270 14.5% Affordable
Software Developers $136,040 17.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $104,550 23.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $103,030 23.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $99,300 24.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $94,730 25.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $88,330 27.4% Affordable
Electricians $81,950 29.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $63,610 38% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $49,210 49.1% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $45,670 52.9% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $44,820 53.9% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,390 63% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $38,240 63.2% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $37,800 64% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (District of Columbia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for District of Columbia. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for District of Columbia (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 34.3% overall, from $1,500 to $2,015. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.0% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000$2,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $2,015
District of Columbia 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓2.0% $1,953 $2,015 $2,246
FY 2025 ↑14.0% $2,012 $2,056 $2,314
FY 2024 ↑11.6% $1,772 $1,803 $2,045
FY 2023 ↑3.1% $1,589 $1,615 $1,838
FY 2022 ↑1.2% $1,539 $1,567 $1,785
FY 2021 ↑3.2% $1,513 $1,548 $1,765
FY 2020 $1,457 $1,500 $1,707
Total change (6yr): +34.3%
Annualized: +5.0%/yr
1 BR: $1,500 → $2,015

Part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area

District of Columbia is a central county of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area, alongside 22 other metro-area counties.

District of Columbia ranks #19 of 23 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Montgomery County ($2,015), Prince George's County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Frederick County ($2,015), Arlington County ($2,015), Charles County ($2,015), Stafford County ($2,015), Alexandria city ($2,015), Spotsylvania County ($2,015), Fauquier County ($2,015), Manassas city ($2,015), Fredericksburg city ($2,015), Fairfax city ($2,015), Manassas Park city ($2,015), Clarke County ($2,015), Falls Church city ($2,015), District of Columbia (this county) ($2,015), Rappahannock County ($1,254), Culpeper County ($1,170), Warren County ($1,002), Jefferson County ($953).

Fairfax County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Montgomery County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Prince George's County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Prince William County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Loudoun County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Frederick County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Arlington County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Charles County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Stafford County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Alexandria city
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Spotsylvania County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Fauquier County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
District of Columbia (this county)
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Show all 23 counties in this metro area
Manassas city
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Fredericksburg city
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Fairfax city
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Manassas Park city
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Clarke County
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Falls Church city
1 BR: $2,015/mo
Rappahannock County
1 BR: $1,254/mo
Culpeper County
1 BR: $1,170/mo
Warren County
1 BR: $1,002/mo
Jefferson County
1 BR: $953/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for District of Columbia, both outside District of Columbia so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside DC (FY2026).

Fairfax County
VA · 2 BR $2,246/mo
Montgomery County
MD · 2 BR $2,246/mo
Prince George's County
MD · 2 BR $2,246/mo
Prince William County
VA · 2 BR $2,246/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside DC).

Bullock County
AL · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $776/mo
Bee County
TX · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $1,185/mo
Monroe County
NY · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Yuba County
CA · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $1,550/mo

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in District of Columbia? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in District of Columbia is $2,015 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,246 and a studio is $1,953.
How does District of Columbia rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in District of Columbia is 110% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $2,015 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does District of Columbia rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, District of Columbia's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,246 ranks #94 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in District of Columbia? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $80,600 ($6,717/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in District of Columbia.
Is rent going up or down in District of Columbia? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in District of Columbia decreased by 2.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $2,056 to $2,015.
Which jobs can afford rent in District of Columbia? ▼
Based on District of Columbia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $2,015/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in District of Columbia over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in District of Columbia went from $1,500 in FY 2020 to $2,015 in FY 2026, a total change of +34.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in District of Columbia? ▼
In District of Columbia, the FY 2026 FMR of $2,015/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for District of Columbia? ▼
For District of Columbia, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($2,015/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.